Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 2 · Psalm 47
PSAL. XLVII. foreign & Triumphalis.
THE Prophet takes occaſion from the bringing up of the Ark, or elſe by the ſetling of it in the Temple by Solomon, to foretel the Aſcenſion of Chriſt into heaven, who was the true Ark of the Covenant, and the Propitiatory. Then there was a Jubilee, and ſo there muſt be at the remembrance of this. It contains a Propheſie of Chriſts Kingdom, and it hath two eſpecial parts.
Firſt, Chriſts aſcenſion typified.An invitation to ſing praiſes to Chriſt.
Secondly, The reaſons that perſwade to it.
1. Vers. 5 The Aſcenſion of Chriſt is under the Arks aſcenſion typified Verſe 5. God is gone up with a ſhout, His invitation to praiſe God for it.the Lord with the ſound of a Trumpet.
2. Upon which he invites, that we do that at this feaſt which was then done, Vers. 1 viz. That we clap hands, and ſing praiſes. That this be done
1. Cheerfully. O clap your hands: for clapping of hands is an outward ſign of inward joy, Nahum 3.19.
2. Univerſally. O clap hands all ye people.
3. Vers. 6 Vocally. Shout unto God with the voice of melody.
4. Frequently. Sing praiſes, ſing praiſes, ſing praiſes, ſing praiſes, verſ. 6. And again, ſing praiſes, verſ. 7. It cannot be done too often.
5. Knowingly and diſcreetly. Sing ye praiſes with underſtanding: know the reaſon why you are to praiſe him.
3. Now theſe reaſons are drawn from his Greatneſs, and his Goodneſs.2The reaſons to perſwade to it.
1. He is Great. He is the Lord the moſt high. 2. Terrible. 3. A great King over all the earth. All power, at his Aſcenſion, 1God great.given to him in heaven and earth. Vers. 2
2. He is a Good God. Vers. 7
1. In collecting his Church, by ſubduing the Nations, 2Good, and that in four reſpects.not by a Sword, but by his Word and Spirit, by which he would ſubdue their iniquities, the iniquity of the Jew firſt, Vers. 3 and then of the Gentile. For the Law was to come out of Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jeruſalem; To the diſcipline of that Religion and Service which we profeſs, both were to ſubmit, and therefore both might well be ſaid to be ſubdued to us, and be brought under our feet. Vers. 4
2. In honoring and rewarding his Church. He ſhall chuſe out an heritage for us, even the worſhip of Jacob, whom he loved.
1. His Church was his choice. A choſen generation: a ſelect people.
2. His heritage, for he will dwell among them: and provide an inheritance for them, bleſſings on earth, and an inheritance in heaven.
3. This is the worſhip and glory of Jacob, of Jacob after the Spirit, the Kingdom, Prieſt-hood, and all the promiſes made unto Jacob and the Fathers, being theirs.
4. The cauſe. His love only. He choſe, Vers. 7 &c. becauſe he loved.
3. In increaſing and amplifying his Church. God is the King now of all the earth, not of the Jews only. For he reigneth over the heathen alſo. He ſits upon a Throne of Holineſs, rules by his Holy Word and Spirit, making them Holy, who were unholy.
2. Yea, and a willing people alſo. For the Princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham.
4. In protecting his Church, whether by himſelf, Verſ. 9 or by the Princes he raiſeth up for her defence. For the ſhields of the earth belong unto God. Princes and Prelates are ſhields of the Church, but God is the chief. He is greatly exalted.
The Euchariſtical Prayer collected out of the forty ſeventh Pſalm.
O Lord God, who haſt exalted thy Son Ieſus Chriſt with great Triumph into the Kingdom of heaven, we beſéech thée leave us not comfortleſs, but ſend to us thy Holy Spirit to comfort us, and exalt us to the ſame place whither our Saviour is gone before.
And thou, O bleſſed Saviour, Vers. 5 who when thou hadſt finiſhed our Redemption on earth, didſt aſcend to the beaven in great glory and Majeſty, Vers. 2 and ſateſt down on the right-hand of thy Father, and art become the Lord the moſt high, terrible, and a great King over all the earth, receive the petitions of thy humble Servants, preſent them at the Throne of Grace, and make interceſſion for us.
Subdue the people by the power of thy Spirit, Vers. 3 and bring the Nations under thy féet by the ſharp edge of thy Word. Cauſe thoſe who are yet ſtrangers and aliens from thy worſhip, to fall low before thée, and perſwade all thoſe who are yet afar off, to come néer, and to embrace thy Goſpel, and the truth and equity of thy Law.
The time was, Vers. 4 when in Judah only God was known, and thy Name was great in Iſrael, it was the excellency of Jacob, which thou didſt love, but now thou haſt merited, Vers. 7 and art ordained to be the King of all the earth; ſince therefore thou haſt choſen theſe alſo for thine inheritance, Vers. 4 reign thou even over the Heathen, Vers. 8 and ſubduing their iniquities, ſit upon thy Throne of Holineſs among them.
O happy day, Vers. 9 when, not the meaneſt and loweſt, but the greateſt and the nobleſt, when the Princes of the people ſhall be gathered together, and be united to the people of the God of Abraham, being all worſhippers of the ſame God, profeſſors of one and the ſame Faith, and partakers of one and the ſame mercy. For then ſhould the name of our God, who is truly the ſhield and defence of his people, be greatly exalted in the earth.
The praiſes of our God ſhould then be in our mouths, Vers. 7 and with-wiſdom and underſtanding ſhould we ſing our Pſalms, heart and hand, affections and work being every way agréeable to our Pſalmodie.
O Lord, infinite and wonderful are thy wayes and works toward the children of men, but the work of Redemption by the blood of thy dear Son, farre excéeds them all. For this love, for this mercy, O work upon our hearts to ſing praiſes to thy honour, our tongues to ſing praiſes to thy glory, our lips to ſhout with the voice of melody.
O all ye Saints of his, Vers. 1 Clap your hands for joy, ſhout for triumph, ſing praiſes to God, Vers. 5 ſing praiſes, ſing praiſes to our King, ſing praiſes. Let hands and tongue, and works and words be ready preſt to ſing praiſes to the God of Jacob. Amen.